Gove’s two tier exam plan takes Cameron and Clegg by surprise

Radical plans to abolish GCSEs and introduce a two-tier O level-style exam triggered fury at Westminster yesterday as it emerged that neither David Cameron nor Nick Clegg were aware of Michael Gove’s proposals.

Liberal Democrats vowed to block the key element of the Education Secretary’s plans, saying that it was “madness” to force 14-year-olds to choose between harder O levels or CSE-style exams designed for less able pupils. Downing Street dampened speculation that the new system could be introduced as early as September 2014.

The plans were leaked on Tuesday when both Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg were abroad, and even caught the Lib Dem schools minister Sarah Teather, who works with Mr Gove, by surprise. Elements of the plan, such as allowing a single…